Cannabis Conviction on Your Record? What You Need to Know Expungement

This forum does not carry MCLE credit. It is intended for informational purposes only.

Expungement is the process by which a record of criminal conviction is destroyed or sealed from state or federal record. Though expungement of certain cannabis-related offenses under the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) will occur automatically, courts will not notify New Yorkers when their respective cases have been expunged. This forum will provide an overview of cannabis-related expungements under the MRTA, including but not limited to guidance on how to contact the court in which a specific case was decided so impacted individuals can learn the status of their case. 

Among other topics addressed by multiple legal experts during the forum will be: 

• Which convictions are automatically expunged under the MRTA
• What restrictions exist to expungement
• What to do if an offense is not automatically eligible for expungement
• How to confirm that records have been expunged
• The timeline in which the court has to act and what happens in the meantime 
• What does this mean for job seekers? 
• Instances in which someone might still need legal representation 
• How expungement is different from vacating convictions and whether someone might have an option for the latter if they’re not eligible for the former

Speakers

Senator Jeremy A. Cooney, New York Senate, Co-Chair of the Marijuana Task Force for the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus

T. Andrew Brown, President, New York State Bar Association

Thomas Beauford, Jr., President and CEO of the Buffalo Urban League, Leader of the Historical Civil Rights, Social Justice, and Community Empowerment Organization

Lynelle Bosworth, Greenberg Traurig LLP